Editor's note: Quan Li loved little kittens when she was growing up in Beijing. Now a world traveller, she is devoting her life to saving the South China Tiger (panthera tigris amoyesis). Late last year, Quan returned from abroad and travelled extensively in Hunan, Jiangxi and Fujian provinces looking for signs of the South China Tiger and for locations for potential new habitats for them. ZHONG JIA, a journalist who works on the overseas edition of People's Daily, recorded some of Quan Li's thoughts.

I loved cats when I was small. Now I love all cats, big or small, wild or tame. I love the unity of opposites displayed in their character: their soft, smooth coats and elegant contours form an aesthetic whole; their wild nature and speed indicate their strength; their lazy and laid-back nature contrasts with their explosive power - a perfect combination!

Of all species of cats, I love South China Tigers the most. Because the tiger is the king of beasts to me; because South China Tigers are direct descendants of ancient tigers; and because South China Tigers are China's tigers.

I have lived overseas for 17 years, and now I live in the United Kingdom. Because of my love of tigers, I founded a charity in London in August 2000 - Save China Tigers. I also set up a website: www.savechinastigers.org, with the aim of publicizing internationally the significance of saving the South China Tiger, seeking international support and co-operation and contributing to the cause of saving the South China Tiger.

I left the fashion business in order to devote myself fully to the cause of saving the South China Tiger. In pursuing this cause, I have travelled around the world.

Why did I make such a difficult choice? It may be due to my stubborn character. It is also due to the fondness Chinese people have for China's tigers.

After graduating from an American university, I worked at a big company. But the job failed to arouse my interest and I left after a year. I spent the following years pursuing a career in the international fashion industry. I achieved quite a bit in my personal career.

But I wasn't satisfied. I chose to work in the fashion industry in order to pursue the perfection in my imagination. I love beautiful clothes and accessories. But after a while, I discovered that fashion is all about now and endless change. Most of the time it deviates from beauty simply for the sake of "change."

I lost my interest.

Sharp turn

During a holiday trip to South Africa, I toured a wildlife reserve created by the Varty brothers. I was so touched by those animals moving freely in the park - nothing could be more beautiful.

The threat of extinction facing the South China Tiger and the fact that some international figures and organizations have given up hope of saving them determined me to make a major change in my life.

About 10 years ago, an American tiger expert came to China to investigate the current status of the South China Tiger. He estimated that there were still 10 to 30 of them left in the wild. This conclusion drew two opposing reactions from the international community.

One group - represented by the Chinese conservation authorities - actively seeks to take action to establish and expand reserves to protect the habitats and eco-environment of the South China Tiger, to create conditions so that tigers bred in captivity can be returned to the wild.

There are also quite a number of experts in the West who believe that South China Tigers are doomed and their extinction is inevitable. They say it is not worthwhile to spend more resources in protecting South China Tigers, as there is no hope.

I simply cannot accept that. When I witnessed the success of the Varty brothers in retraining Bengal tigers, I felt encouraged. I saw hope for the South China Tiger. I pulled out of the international fashion industry to devote all my time to saving the South China Tiger.

With the help of the State Forestry Administration of China, I investigated places where signs of the South China Tiger are found during my last trip to China and examined the possibility of co-operating with the Varty brothers in saving the South China Tiger.

More than a month of trekking in wild mountainous areas exhausted me but excited me even more. First of all, I was impressed with the positive attitude and actions taken by the Chinese Government. The country has poured a huge amount of financial resources into saving endangered animals. Local governments offer active co-operation in creating more favorable conditions for nature reserves.

I was particularly touched by the enthusiasm and sacrifices made by members of the public in China. For instance, hunting has been banned in some areas, people have tolerated having their crops damaged by wild animals and some have even given up their homes for reserves - local residents have done all this in order to protect wild life and create a homeland for the South China Tiger.

In many areas of Hunan and Jiangxi provinces where South China Tigers are said to exist, local residents have used their own money to buy cameras. They take great risks in order to capture images of living South China Tigers in the wild.

I also met quite a number of workers at the reserves who work enthusiastically and diligently. They are willing to devote their entire lives to saving and protecting these animals.

Tiger culture

China's history is rich in tiger culture. Some people in the West fail to understand the significance of tigers in our lives. They base their conclusion of whether or not it is worthwhile to save the South China Tigers on an estimate that only 10 to 30 such tigers exist in the wild, simply ignoring the deeper meaning of tigers.

Let's put aside the argument over whether or not there are more wild tigers than we actually know. Let us assume that there are only 10 or even just one tiger left in the wild. The fact that even one wild tiger exists is enough to justify our cause.

I'm not advocating an unscientific approach. As tigers are at top of the food chain, saving tigers will also help save all the other animals interlinked on the same chain. Preserving and protecting tigers' habitats is actually creating favorable conditions for all wild flora and fauna.

Establishing reserves in areas where signs of South China Tigers are still found can at the same time protect bears, leopards, wild boars, antelopes and wild goats, for example.

Even if South China Tigers eventually fail to reproduce due to insufficient numbers, what we can save in the process is the ecological chain so vital to human beings. How can we simply give them up?

I can speak seven languages. I am using this advantage to tell the world about the efforts China's government and people are making to save the South China Tiger, and introduce advanced wildlife conservation methods and models to China at the same time.

Through my efforts, I want to persuade more people to join our cause of saving the South China Tiger. I want to do this because of my love of the South China Tiger and all Chinese tigers.

(China Daily July 17, 2002)